Water quality summary for the Snake River and alpine lakes in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway: Preliminary analysis of 2013 data
Yoder A, Ray A, Mellander K, Whaley C, Roy R. 2016. Water quality summary for the Snake River and alpine lakes in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway: Preliminary analysis of 2013 data. Natural Resource Report. NPS/GRYN/NRR—2016/1228. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report summarizes discharge and water quality monitoring data for the Snake River and water quality monitoring data for representative alpine lakes in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway for calendar year 2013. Results presented include annual and long-term discharge summaries and an evaluation of chemical conditions relative to state and federal water quality standards. These results are considered provisional, and therefore may be subject to change. River discharge. Hydrographs for the Snake River at Flagg Ranch and Moose exhibit a general pattern of high early summer flows and lower baseflows occurring in late summer. During much of 2013, flows at the Flagg Ranch monitoring location were similar to the 25th percentile of daily flows at that site. Peak flows were higher (similar to the 75th percentile), occurred earlier in the year compared to the long-term average, but quickly dropped below long-term average flows. Daily flows at the Moose monitoring station were similar to average daily mean flows. During summer months, the unnatural hydrograph at Moose exhibited signs of flow regulation associated with the management of Jackson Lake. Water quality monitoring in the Snake River. Water quality in the Snake River exhibited seasonal variability over the sampling period. Specifically, total iron peaked during high flows. In contrast, chloride, sulfate, dissolved sodium, total magnesium, and total calcium levels were at their annual minimum during runoff. During peak flows, total iron levels exceeded the Wyoming Chronic Aquatic Life Criterion for total recoverable iron. Water quality monitoring of alpine lakes. Water quality in three monitored lakes (Amphitheater, Delta, and Surprise Lakes) varied by lake and sampling date. Amphitheater Lake had total nitrogen and total phosphorus levels below the EPA reference condition for the Middle Rockies Ecoregion. Delta Lake had the highest total nitrogen and total phosphorus levels and exceeded EPA reference condition criteria for these nutrients. Detectable levels of ammonium were documented in Amphitheater Lake during the July sampling.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Yoder, Alyssa; Ray, Andrew; Mellander, Kathryn; Whaley, Chad; Roy, Rodney
- Date of Issue
- 2016-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GRTE , GRYN , JODR , NRSS
- Keywords
- alpine lakes, monitoring, natural resources, river discharge, sampling, Snake River, water quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Nutrient Dynamics